Cutter mounting



I May 2, 1939.

A. c. C ATLAND 2,156,676

CUTTER MOUNTING Original Filed Nov. 5, 1957,

27749 H/I/IO/VEJ Patented May 2, 1939 GUTTER MOUNTING Alfred C. Catland, Alhambra, Calii., assignor to Globe Oil Tools Company, Los Nietos, Calit, a corporation of California Original application November 5, 19st, Serial No. 172,967.. Divided and this application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,3q1

9 Claims.

This invention relates to well drilling tools andrelates more particularly to the hearings or mountings for the rotatable cutters of well bits..

A general object of this invention is to provide a 'dependable long-wearing anti-friction bearing assembly or bearing means' for they cross cutters or inner cutters of a rotary rock bit.

This application is a division of my application for Letters Patent entitled Rock bit, Serial No. 172,967, filed November 5, 1937.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved anti-friction bearing for a cutter ofa well bit in which a series of balls assumes the end thrusts 'in both directions and assists in taking the radial thrusts from the cutter and a series of rollers assumes the radial thrusts, throughout themaior portion of the cutters length.

' Another objectof this invention is to provide a cutter mounting of the character mentioned in which the parts are related so that the anti-friction rollers may extend to a point adjacent an end of the cutter to assure a better distribution of the forces transmitted between the cutter and its bearing. Y

" parts of the body Another object of this invention is to provide a cutter mounting of the character mentioned including a bearing member on which the rollers bear and revolve and a tongue on said member occupying and closing the ball admitting passage in the race member on which the balls bear and revolve.

Aiurther object of this invention is to provide a well bit construction in which a single shaft or pin carries the bearing means of the two sets of inner cutters and is secured to the bit body by a novel dependable retaining means.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

' 'Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bit embodying the present invention with its lower portion broken away, to illustrate the cutters and their bearing means in transverse crosssection. Fig. 2

is an enlarged side elevation ofthe bearing memher for one of the large cutters Fig. 3 is an end view of the member shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a.

top elevation of the race for one of the large-cut- The cutter assemblies and bearing means of the present invention may be employed on well bits varying considerably in type and construction. In the drawing the invention is illustrated as applied to a rotaryrock bit having a body l provided with a substantially central depending web l1 and two diametrically opposite legs 20. The web I! and the legs 20 are shown as integral l0 and are substantially vertical. The inner sides of the depending legs 20 have suitable raised bearing surfaces.

i The construction of the present invention may be said to comprise, generally, two sets or. pairs of roller cutters l3 and I4 and bearing means l for rotatably supporting the sets of cutters l3 and It on the bit body 10. g

The cutters l3 are frusto-conical roller cutters supported by the means l5 at the inner sides of the legs 20. The cutters l3 are arranged with their small ends facinginwardly toward the central longitudinal axis of the bit. Peripheral cutting teeth 48 are provided on the cuters l3. Each cutter l3 has a central longitudinal opening 48. The openings 49 are of substantial diameter and are provided at their inner ends or inner portions with inwardiy'projecting annular flanges 5B. A ball race or groove BI is provided in the inner surface of each flange 50. The flanges 50 provide the walls of the openings 49 with abrupt annular shoulders.

The cutters it are substantially cylindrical rollercutters rotatably supported by the means l5 to act on the formation at the inner portion of the well bore. There are two cutters l4, one being arranged at each side of the web l1. The cutters It may be alike. Each cutter if is provided with peripheral cutting teeth 52 and a central longitudinal opening 53. Tw'o axially spaced The bearing means l5 for the inner cutters l3 and I4 comprises two likebearing assemblies and a single support member or pin 15 carried by the .web l1 and the legs '20. The two bearing assemblies just mentionedeach include a bearing member 55 and a race 56 within a cutter l3 and races 51 and 58 within a cutter ll.

The bearing members 55 areelongate cylindri cal parts having central longitudinal openings 59.

-ters showing a portionfiofan adjacent bearing- J, member, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on- Fig; i.

Radial flanges 60 are provided on the outer ends of the members 55 to bear against the inner sides .of the adjacent legs 20. The flanges 50 are beveled off at 6| to be partially received in beveled outer portion'sof the cutter openings 46. The members 55 are received in the openings 46 with substantial clearance and series of rollers 62 are arranged in the openings 46 to rotatably support I the cutters I3 on the bearing'members 55. The

rollers 62 are arranged between the flanges 56.

' and 66 which flanges hold them against endwise movement.

The races 56 are generally cylindrical spoollike members having central longitudinal openings 56 The races 56 may be of the same diameter as the members -56 andarearranged in each race 56. The grooves 63 directly oppose the grooves 5| in the flanges 56. Series of balls 64 are arranged in the opposing grooves 5| and 60 -with projecting tongues 61 which occupy the 63. The grooves 5| and 63 are of such depth that the balls 64 transmit end thrusts in both directions between the cutters I3 and the races 56 and assist in transmitting the radial thrusts.

In accordance with the invention the races 56 have notches 66 entering their outer ends and. joining or intersecting their grooves 63 to admit the balls 64 to the opposing grooves 5| and 63 when the bearing means is being assembled. The inner ends of the bearing member 55 are provided notches 66. The tongues 61 have curved concave surfaces 66 on their outer sides for completing the grooves 63 in the races 56. The tongues 61 occupying the notches 66 prevent the loss of the balls 64 from the'sets of opposing grooves 5| and 63. It is preferred to position the parts so.- that the notches:66 and-the tongues 61 are at the upper sides of the assemblies where the tongues and the adjacent edge parts of the races 56 are subjected to a minimum of wear.

Means is provided to prevent rotation ofth bearing members 55 and the races 56 to retain them in the positions where the notches 66 and the tongues 61 are at the upper sides oi. the assemblies. Lugs 66 project outwardly from the flanges 66 at the lower ends of the legs 26. Welds 1 16 secure, the lugs 66 to the legs 26 to hold the bearing members '55 against rotation. The tongues 61 cooperating with the notches 66 of course hold the races 56 against turning... It is to be noted that each of the cutters I3 is supported by a series of rollers 62 of substantial length and by annularseries of balls 64 The rollers 62 assume the radial thrusts from the cutters I3 throughout themajor portions of the cutters' i3 and have their outer ends adjacent the outer ends of the cutters. The balls 64 assuming the end thrusts in both directions are efiective in preventingendwise movement of the cutters I3 and in preventing the cutters from engaging against the legs 26.

The races 51 and'56 for the inner cutters I4 are I generally cylindricalmembers having central longitudin'al openings. The races 51 and 56 are arranged in end to end relation and the outer ends 01 the races'51 engage the inner ends of the races 56. The races 51 and 56 are received in the openings 53 of the cutters I4 with substantial clearance.

- the ends of the bosses 1|.

In accordance with the invention the web I1 is provided at its opposite sides with bearing bosses 1| projecting into the cutter openings 53. The inner ends of the races 56 may bearaTgainst" The opposing peripheral corners of the engaging pairs of races 51 and 56 are provided with grooves of partially circular cross section which register to' form ball grooves 12. The grooves 12 directly oppose the outermost grooves 54 in the cutters I4. The opposing peripheral'corners of the races 58 and the bosses 1| are shaped to form annular ball grooves 13 to directly oppose theinner grooves 54 in the cutters I4. Series of balls 14 are arranged in the sets of opposing grooves 54 and 12 and 54 and 13 to rotatably support the cutters I4. The grooves 54 and 12 and 54 and 13 are of such depth that both series of balls 14 take the end thrusts in I1 and has an end portion received in an opening. 16 inthe other leg 26. The pin 15 may be substantially horizontal. The opening 11 in the web I1 extends centrally through the bosses 1| so that the web has extensive supporting engagement with thepin 15. The opening 16 is provided at its outer end with a tapered socket 16 for receiving a frusto-conical nut 66. .The nut 66 is longitudinally .split to be flexible and resilient. The pin 15 is threaded into the nut 66 The pin 15 has a head 15 received his socket 16 inthe opening 16 to engage against the leg 26 having the said opening. Threading or tightening of the pin 15 draws the tapered split nut 66 into the tapered socket 16. The taper of the socket 16 and the nut 66 causes the nut to be tightly contracted onto the pin 15 so that the nut cannot become displaced or lost. The supporting pin 15 passes through the openings 56 of the bearing members 55, the openings 56* of the races 56 andthe "openings of the races 51 and 56 to support these parts and the sets o'i' cutters l3 and I4.

It is believed that the utility and practicability of, the improved cutter'and bearing assembly of the invention will be understood from the fore going detailed description. In the operation of the bit the body I6 is securedto the lower end 0% a well drilling string and the said stringis mtated and fed downwardly in the usual manner.

The sets 1 inner cutters I3 and I4 act on theinner p ion of the well bore and the cutters rotate about substantiallyhorizontal axes. The

cutters I3 are supported by the rollers 62 which are eifectivein taking the heavy radial loads or thrusts. The cutters I3'are also rotatably supported by the balls 64 which assume the end thrusts in both directions so that the cutters I3 need not bear 'on thrust washers oribody surfaces. The cutters l4 are rotatably supported by spaced sets of balls 14 which take the axial thrusts The bearingmeans I5 for the inner cutters I3 .injboth directions, as well as the radial thrusts.

, and I4 is such that the several parts may be easily andquickly assembled. The several cutters I3 and I4 of the bit may be easily removed from the body I6 for replacementand to permit the reconditioning of the bearing means, etc.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish Wreserve to myself any variations or modifications thatmay ,appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope or the following claims: a i

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well bit comprising a'body having a depending leg, 2. support projecting from theleg; a

' roller cutter having an opening receiving the support, there being a ball groove in the wall of the opening, a tubular bearing member arranged on ing-member, and rollers rotatably supporting the rotation, a race member on the support at the cutter on the second bearing member.

2. A well bit comprising a body. having a depending leg, a support projecting from the leg, a roller cutter having an opening receiving the support, there being a ball groove ,in the wall of the opening, a bearing member on the support having a ball groove opposing the first mentioned groove, balls in the grooves assuming end thrusts imposed on the cutter, a shoulder on the wall of said opening adjacent said grooves and facing the leg, a second bearing member on the support between the leg and the first bearing member, a radial flange on the second member bearing against said leg, and a series of rollers between the shoulder and the flange rotatably supporting the cutter on the second member.

'3. A well bit comprising a body having a depending leg, a support projecting from the leg, a roller cutter having an opening receiving the support, there being a ball groove in the wall of the opening, a bearing member on the support having a ball groove opposing the first mentioned groove, balls in the grooves assuming end thrusts imposed. on the cutter, the member having a notch in its end opposing the leg for admitting the balls to the grooves, a second bearing member between the leg and the first bearing member, a tongue in the said second bearing member occupying the notch, a shoulder. on the wall of said opening adjacent the grooves, a flange on the said second member bearing on the leg, and rollers between the shoulder and flange rotatably supporting the cutter on the said second member.

4. In a well bit, a cutter having an opening, a

- support extending through the opening, a bear ing member on the support having a radial flange at one end, the wall of said opening having a shoulder spaced from and opposing the flange and having a ball race, a series of rollers in the opening between the flange and the shoulder bearing on the member to support the-cutter for other end of the bearing member having a ball race opposing the first named race, and balls in the opposing races transmitting end thrusts in both directions.

5. In a well bit, a cutter having an opening, a

support extending through the opening, a bearing member on the support having a radial flange at one end, the wall of said opening having a shoulder spaced from and opposing the flange and having a ball race, a seriescof rollers in the opening between the flange and the shoulder bearing on the member to support the cutter for rotation, a race member on the support at the other end of the bearing member having a ball race opposing the first named race and having a notch extending from one end to the race, balls inserted through the notch into the opposing races to transmit end'thrusts in both directions, and a tongue on the bearing member occupying the notch.

'6. In a well bit, a cutter having an opening, a support extending through the opening, a bearing member on the support having a radial flange at one end, the wall of said opening having a shoulder spaced from and opposing the flange and having a ball race, a series of rollers in the opening between the flange and the shoulder bearing on the member to support the .cutter for rotation, the rollers having a length greater than large end of the cutter, the wall of said opening having a ball groove adjacent the small end of the cutter and a shoulder adjacent the groove and opposing the flange, a series of rollers between the flange and the shoulder bearing on said member to rotatably support the cutter, a race member on the support and having aball groove opposing the first named groove, and balls in the opposing grooves, the cooperation between the balls and the grooves being of such extent that the balls take the axial thrusts from'the cutter in both directions.

8. In a. well'bit, a body, a depending web on the body having an opening; a boss on a side-oi the web, a cutter having an opening, a supporting pin carried in the opening and projecting from theboss to extend through the cutter opening, a bearing member on the pin having an end engaging against the boss, there being a ball race in the wall of the cutter opening and a ball race formed in the abutting peripheral corners of the member and boss and balls in the races rotatably supporting the cutter.

9 In a well bit, a body, a depending web on the body having an'opening,*a boss on a side of the web, a cutter having an opening, a supporting pin carried in the opening and projecting and balls in the opposing races rotatably supporting the cutter, the races beingformed and related so that the balls assume end thrusts from the cutter in bothdirections.

ALFRED c. ca'rmn v 

